"(Plate ump Mike Everitt) asked the first-base umpire (Bruce Dreckman) if he did indeed try to get out of the way and not attempt a bunt and the first-base ump agreed with the home-plate ump."

Play resumed, Denard Span doubled, Ian Desmond walked and Bryce Harper made it 5-2 with one of the most towering sacrifice flies you could imagine.

In the third, Headley hit a solo homer, his seventh of the season, first since June 11 and second since May 29. Moreover, it was just the fourth multiple-RBI game of the season for the switch-hitter who led the league with 115 last year.

The effects of the homer lasted almost no time at all – relatively speaking, that is, on a hot and muggy night where the first four innings took just under two hours – as Washington scored the last run charged to Cashner.

"I didn't think (Black) was coming out to get me," said Cashner, ""but I didn't realize I'd thrown that many pitches."

Only when the Padres finally saw Gonzalez walk off the mound after 110 pitches did things take a turn for their better. Pedro Ciriaco and Chris Denorfia were on base when Carlos Quentin's seventh-inning homer off reliever Craig Stammen turned an 8-2 romp into a three-run game.

The Padres play the middle game of the series Saturday with a late-afternoon start at Nationals Park.